Illuminated musical instrument



' L. SAUNDERS ILLUMINATED MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed August 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/"$02 lean/aw? zEau n/MI Oct.v 12 1926. 1,602,710

L.SAUNDERS ILLUMINATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed August 10, 1925 2 SheetsSheet 2 ElCi-l 61am 1 o w Jana/r67 Swznziaa Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES LEONARD SAUNDERS, OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS.

ILLUMINATED I/[USICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed August 10, 132-5. serial no, 49,462.

My invention relates both to the art of musicalinstruments and to illumination, the principal object being to provide unique and changeable illuminating means for an instrument, provided with controlling switches which are actuated by the usual depressible keys, the invention being primarily intended for wind instruments, such as the so-called Sousaphones.

Another object is to provide novel illuminating and switch means readily applicable to an ordinary wind instrument.

The invention resides not only in an illuminated instrument of novel form, but in the novel control means for the illuminating means, so constructed as to be readily applicable to an ordinary instrument.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view partly broken away and in section, showing awind instrument improved in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is side elevation partly in section showing the switch means for controlling the illuminating means, and disclosing the unique relation of said switch means and its casing with the ordinary key-receiving cylinders of the instrument.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section of the main body of the switch casing.

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a bottom plan view and a longitudinal sectional view through the upper set of contacts and the insulating plate upon which they are mounted.

Figure 7 is a top plan View and Figure 8 an edge view of the lower contact mounting base.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the illuminating means, the wiring and the switch means.

A wind instrument is shown having the usual bell B, cylinders C. and keys K having piston portions P slidable in said cylinders for sounding notes. Within the sound passages of the instrument,near the bell B, I have shown difii'erently colored electric light bulbs 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively, the sockets 14 for these bulbs being preterably mounted on a continuous band 15 which is suitably secured in the instrument. Preferably, the light 10 is of a golden color while the lights 11, 1.2 and 13 are respectively red, blue and green. It will be understood however that these lights may be of any other desired colors or tints.

Secured to the lower ends of the cylinders G. is a switch casing 16 having necks 17 which comnininicate with said cylinders. Preferably, internally threaded rings 18 are swiveled on these necks for engagement with the usual screw threads T of? the cylinders. The casing 16 preferably includes a main continuous side wall 19 appropriately liner with insulation 20, the lower end of said wall. liieing closed by a contact mounting base 21. Above this base, a horizontal par tition 22 is mounted in the casing, said partition having stein guides 23 in axial alinement with the cylinders C. This partition is torn'icd of insulation, and above it, there is another insulating partition 24 having stem guide v in alinenient with the guides Suitabl mounted upon the lower side of the partition 24, are four contact plates 26, 27. 28 and 29, these plates being arranged out of electrical engagen'ient with each other. Stems 30 of insulation. are slidably received in the openings 23 and 25 with their upper ends in position to be struck and depressed by the piston portions P of the keys K, said upper ends of the stems having pads 31 to engage said piston portions. Below the partition 24, the stems 30 are provided with metal contact plates 32 which normally bridge the gaps between. the Contact plates 26, 27. 28 and 29, the endniorst of these contact plates, .26 and being connected with wires 33 and 34 which are included in the circuit of the golden bulb 10. It thus follows that when all of the keys K are raised, this bulb 10 has its circuit completed with the result that itstands illun'iinated. Upon the depres ion of any key however, the cir cuit is broken and the bulb 10 is extinguished.

Suitably mounted on the base 21, are stationary contacts and enacting movable contacts 36, forming switches for the colored lights 11, 12 and 18. ne switch being assigned to each light. Any desired wiring may be employed for connecting these switches and lights. and certain wires connectcd with the stationary contacts 35, have been indicated at 37 whereas others which are connected with the movable contacts 36 are designated at 38.

The movable contacts 30 are in the downward paths of the piston portion P of the keys K, so that when any key is depressed, it first breaks the circuit of the bulb l0 and then immediately closes the switch for one of the other bulbs. It thus follows that during manipulation of the keys while playing the instrument, the lighting eitects produced upon the latter. are constantly varying. Either a light of one color or another appears, or the colored lights from the bulbs are blended, according to the keys which may be deprcsset. Very pleasing change able illumination is thus produced. which gives particularly, desirable results when the bulbs are arranged substantially as shown, to illuminate the bell ot' the instrument. Obviously. the current conducting wires run to the exterior of the instrument at any desired point and may be connected with ordinary electric service.

Excellent results are obtainable from the general construction shown and it is therefore preferably followed. However within the scope of the invention claimed, numerous modifications may be made,

I claim:

1. In a wind instrun'ient having a bell. and. keys for sounding notes: electrical illumihating means tor-said bell mounted in the instrument and having switch means controlled by said keys.

2. In a wind instrument having a bell, and keys for sounding notes; electric lights of dill erent colors mounted in the instrument to illuminate the bell, and electrical circuits for said lights having switches actuated by said keys.

3. In a wind instrument having notesounding keys slidable in cylinders; electric lights or ditl erentcolors mounted to illuminate the instrument. a switch casing attached to said cylinders, and electrical circuits for said lights having controlling switches mounted in said casing and actuated by said keys.

4:. In a wind instrument having note sounding keys slidable in cylinders; electric lights of dil'ferent colors mounted to illuminate the instrument, a switch casing attached to said cylinders and having stem guides in substantial alinement therewith, and elec trical circuits for said lights having controlling switches mounted in said casing, said switcl es having operating stems passing slidably through said stein guides and actuated by said keys.

In a wind instrument having a bell and keys for sounding notes; illuminating n'ieans for said bell disposer .ithin the instrument, and means controlled by said keys for opcrating said illuminating means when all keys are raised and for throwing said illuminatin' means out of play when any key is depressed.

(i. In a wind instrument having a bell and keys for sounding notes: illuminating means for said bell disposed within the instrument, and switch means for said illuminating means controlled by said keys and arranged to ell'ect one illumination of the instrument when the keys are raised and a dillerent illzunination upon key depression.

T. In a musical instrument having keys for sounding notes; illuminating means for said instrument, means controlled by said keys for operating said illuminating means when all keys ZIIQ I'HlEICtl and for throwing said illuminatingmeans out of play when any key is depressed. additional and changeable illuminating means for the instrument,

l means controlled by said keys for bringa maid changeable illuminating means into y upon key depression.

ma mu cl. In a musical instrument having notesount nr keys, illuminating means for said ill or ()llGlu it e s are raised and for throwing said iting means out of play when any Y is depressed, electric lights of ditl'erent colors mounted to illuminate the instrument, and means for illuminating said lights including switches for the individual lights individually controlled by said keys and closed by depression of the latter.

5). In an illuminating means for a wind instrument having the usual key-receiving cylinders; a switch casing having openings for communication with the lower ends of the cylinders, switch means in said casing having actuating members passing through said openings for operation by depression of the instrun'ientkeys and means for connecting said casing with the cylinders.

10. In an illuminating means for a wind instrument having the usual key-receiving cylinders; a switch casing having openings for communication with the lower ends of the cylinders, switch means in said casing having actuating members passing through said openings for operation by depression of the instrument keys, and internally threaded swireled on the casing for engagement with the threaded lower ends of the cylinders to attach said casing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

LEONARD SAUNDERS.

t. m ans controlled by said keys Lina; said illuminating means when 

